Help building a graphic design portfolio?

Question

I am a full time student (8.30am - 3.30pm) and would like to do some graphic design and build up a portfolio. I haven't chose graphic design at a level because of travel reasons an availability and instead chose science and maths. but I would like to build up a graphic design portfolio as a hobby. I don't know what to do though though because I cannot afford the computer software (such as photoshop) and i am one of these people who needs define briefs to work to. how can I develop this to actual practice?

Answer 1

I am a senior graphic design student so I think I can try to help you with your problem.

To start, you need to understand basic concepts and learn to apply them to you projects effectively. Basic concepts include relationships of form and space, color harmony, the grid and typography. It helps if you already have decent drawings skills or some kind of artistic background, as that will help you with conveying your ideas.



Learn What Design Is:

I think you should begin by studying design in depth by reading design books and paying attention to what you see. Look at sites like Behance and Dribble, where professional designers post their work and try to learn by observation. Even sites like Pinterest have tons of good design on them. Ask yourself why a design looks good to you and make note of the things that work and don't work.



Get Supplies and Software:

Next, you want to get together design materials to work with. Some of the essentials are:



1. A good laptop with a lot of RAM! Design programs use a lot of space and memory. Most designers swear by the Apple Macbook Pro. I use a HP Notebook PC with Windows 7 with an i7 core processor and 6 GB of RAM. This works for me. Use whatever system you're comfortable with.



2. Adobe Creative Suite. Adobe offers a student discount! On www.academicsuperstore.com you can get CS6 Design and Web with a student id for $584.99, which sounds like a lot but is greatly discounted for the original price. This package carries pretty much all the programs you need for print and basic web design. If you only plan to do print design you can save by getting the Design Standard, which only has Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign.



3. A graphics tablet. This allows you to draw directly in the program but takes getting used to. I use a Wacom Bamboo Create though the Wacom Intuos5 is better. The Bamboo series is more affordable and is definitely the way to go for beginners.



4. Sketchbook, line gauge, and pencils. You want to sketch before even touching your computer. It's very important for figuring out the composition. Also, it's a good way to keep track of things and make notes.





Portfolio Pieces:

You can begin thinking about projects and planning as you learn. The wonderful thing about projects is that you don't have to wait to get clients to start practicing! You can make up your own projects and set the parameters based on what you need for your portfolio. Basically, as I'm building my own portfolio I have figured out several kinds of projects that are good to have:



1. A Branding and Identity Project: This basically includes a logo, color scheme, typeface combo, business card, letterhead and envelope but can be expanded based on the business that the identity is for. Great ex here: http://www.behance.net/gallery/im-nu-Corporate-Identity-Study/8027803



2. Book Design: Books are difficult but they help teach you about the grid and making text type readable. To get into book design you can start by laying out a fake magazine spread based on the grid of an existing magazine or creating a book out of a lengthy essay. The content isn't really important at this point, focus on the design.



3. Event Poster: It can be for a band, movie or anything really. Try to make something that will catch the eye of the viewer at a glance and make them want to look at what the poster is about. I'd recommend doing a series of posters and even a t-shirt or something to tie into it. Good example here: http://www.behance.net/gallery/Face-The-Music/5471997



4. Package Design: You can rebrand an existing packaged food or invent a new brand (this can tie into the identity design project). Take apart boxes and bags and measure them so that you can understand how to build templates and such. You can also design ads for your packaged goods.



Also, it never hurts to ask family or friends if they need design work. Design flyers for a local band, invitations for you sister's wedding, desktop backgrounds for you friends, business cards for your mom's homemade cake baking business, whatever! Design opportunities are everywhere and people always need good designs done (even if they don't know it yet!)





Resources:

Buy your software here: http://www.academicsuperstore.com/

Free design resources: http://www.pixelpixelpixel.com/

Nice fonts: http://www.losttype.com/

Cool textures: http://lostandtaken.com/

Tutorials and other Aweosmeness:http://www.computerarts.co.uk/

Software Training: http://www.lynda.com/

Great Design Community: http://www.behance.net/

You can find a lot of good resources on sale here: https://creativemarket.com/





Man, I wrote a novel here but I feel like there's so much more I could tell you! I hope this helps you to get started at least! Feel free to ask me if you need more help! I could show you some of my student work if you need ideas for projects.

Answer 2

The most important part of creating your portfolio is choosing the right pieces. You should select at least six or seven good pieces, but no more than nine or ten. Lay out all the pieces on a work table. For most employers, five or six pieces in the portfolio will be sufficient.



If you're applying for a job with a graphic design firm, choose pieces that demonstrate the basic skills, such as a business package that includes a logo, letterhead, and brochure. Include examples of posters and cover art for various media. If you're applying for a freelance position, choose pieces that best represent the work that will be required for that position.



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Answer 3

Start as early as possible. In fact, it would have been nice if you had started a little earlier than now. Certain colleges look for certain things. Even going in for design, its nice to show off painting/drawing skills if possible. Show off how well you can use color in a piece, and placement of items to create a good effect. Oh, and adding typography designs to your portfolio is a plus. I got sooooo many comments from college reps about how awesome it was that I had font sketches/finished fonts in my portfolio and no one else did. Most colleges will ask for about 20-40 pieces, including a sketchbook. Remember to only choose your best pieces! Don't add crappy things just to get to the limit.

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Answer 6

Well

A good software to edit your images is GIMP. The best free alternative to photoshop in my opinion. Grab it here http://bitly.com/1zbn1kc

It's surely the leader program of its type

Bye

Answer 7

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Answer 8

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Answer 9

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